Chapter 20

 Chapter Twenty: Invitation from the Talent Scout

In this round, even more people in the audience couldn't hold back their laughter.

The exaggerated and quirky performance with a hint of down-to-earth humor reminded many of comedic sketches and internet jokes. It was akin to punchlines like "buy a cola, drink half, then pour half" or "buy a pancake, eat one, throw one away."

The humor here had a contrast similar to "the emperor farming with a golden hoe."

As the lyrics mentioned, a rich second-generation who had been poor for a long time but suddenly became wealthy could only come up with comical ways to spend money, like "egg pancakes with instant noodles, add two cloves of garlic" or "a big bowl of ramen with wide noodles and extra meat, one bowl after another." It sounded genuinely funny.

He didn't even waste food! Truly, it was a tearjerker moment.

Then, as Lu Zhixing's guitar-playing became more dynamic, the song entered the chorus.

"Actually, I'm a rich guy, I've come clean, come clean,

"Actually, I'm a rich guy, I've come clean, come clean,

"Money is a scoundrel,

"Spend it and earn it back,

"Instead of becoming a miser,

"It's better to do charity."

The chorus continued in the same style as before, upbeat and somewhat playful. Lu Zhixing's body swayed along, and the atmosphere in the room inexplicably heated up. Many people couldn't help but bob their heads and even wanted to applaud and clap along.

After singing the chorus twice, the song returned to the main part, but with some melodic changes and significantly different lyrics.

"I want to buy a big house,

"Roam around from morning till night.

"I want to lounge on the sofa, eat and sleep,

"Live like this for a whole year.

"I want to chat with friends about dreams,

"Not worrying about tomorrow.

"I want to buy all the research achievements,

"To contribute to humanity.

"I want to buy all the pain and sorrow,

"And let them scatter in the wind.

"I want to buy the smiles of children,

"And the time that has passed.

"I want to buy all the dreams,

"And watch them all come true."

As this segment concluded, many people in the audience wore expressions of astonishment on their faces.

If the lyrics of the first round of the chorus were humorous and quirky, then this part of the lyrics could be described as absolutely stunning!

Starting simply with "buying a big house" and "lounging on the sofa, eating and drinking," everyone thought this section was about material enjoyment. However, it unexpectedly transitioned from material life to spiritual pursuits.

It continued to elevate further, turning into the ultimate ideals!

A big house and indulgence in life's pleasures represent material needs.

Chatting with friends about dreams represents spiritual pursuits.

What followed – "buying research achievements," "buying pain and sorrow," "buying children's smiles," and "buying all the dreams" – became progressively more abstract and elevated. Yet, because of the overall tone of the song, it didn't feel unrealistic. Instead, it conveyed that these lofty ideals were grounded in reality.

A young man who had been poor for a long time and suddenly became rich didn't know how to spend money sensibly. He only understood indulging in simple pleasures like "egg pancakes with instant noodles, add two cloves of garlic" and "a big bowl of ramen with wide noodles and extra meat, one bowl after another."

But in his mind, he wanted to use money to purchase things more precious, things that could make the world a better place.

"Actually, I'm a rich guy, I've come clean, come clean,

"Actually, I'm a rich guy, I've come clean, come clean,

"Money is a scoundrel,

"Spend it and earn it back,

"And then sincerely say,

"Don't let money rule everything!"

At the end of the song, there was a section with a melody reminiscent of "Jingle Bells," accompanied by a whistle that added a delightful touch.

After repeating the familiar melody two or three times, Lu Zhixing confidently plucked the guitar strings a couple of times, bringing the entire song to a sudden halt.

Seeing the audience was a bit quiet, he silently added a few words.

"I'm done singing. Thank you."

...

After a brief moment of silence, the entire venue erupted in excitement!

The senior from the Music College responsible for recruiting talent was the first to speak up.

"This student! Please, you must join our Music College's freshman welcoming party!"

She was, after all, a professional. While most people in the audience might only have a general sense of the song, she could hear many details.

The melody of this song, though simple and somewhat reminiscent of a catchy tune, had a strong quality – it was genuinely easy to remember.

In fact, after hearing Lu Zhixing sing just the first two lines, she naturally began to hum along.

The melody was comfortable and natural, without any exaggerated high notes or artificially deep lows. However, this didn't mean the composition of this song was simple. Quite the contrary, it was quite challenging to use such a straightforward melody to evoke emotional resonance in listeners. 

If the melody of the song wasn't particularly striking, the lyrics completely captivated her. 

Though the song's theme centered around "money," the other things mentioned in the lyrics were of far greater importance. 

Some people desire money to achieve something specific if they had it, while others desire money so they wouldn't have to do something. 

At first listen, this song might seem like a typical narrative about a young person suddenly inheriting a massive fortune and becoming rich overnight. However, upon closer examination, it felt more like a young person's fantasy filled with genuine and heartfelt aspirations. 

The constant transition between the identities of "having money" and "not having money" created a unique effect. 

So, while these lyrics might initially appear plain and ordinary, they contained profound thoughts and reflections on life. This insight wasn't forcefully imposed on others but rather subtly evoked a sense of resonance, creating a strong feeling of identification among listeners.

This created a stark and striking contrast with the song Li Zihan had just performed. In terms of content and concept, it could be said that Lu Zhixing's song completely outshone Li Zihan's.

As for the melody, it was subjective and varied from person to person, so it was hard to definitively say which one was better. However, judging by the reaction of the audience, it was evident that Lu Zhixing's song was more popular with the general crowd, and its potential for becoming a hit was on a different level.

Some had initially wondered, why were both songs related to "money"? Did Lu Zhixing intentionally choose to sing this song?

But upon further thought, it seemed unlikely. This was an original song, and Lu Zhixing must have prepared it in advance. It couldn't have been improvised, let alone having multiple songs prepared ahead of time.

It appeared that the "accident" that resulted in Li Zihan's catastrophic performance had caught everyone by surprise.

However, regardless of the circumstances, the young man before them could be described with two words: "incredibly talented!"

The School of Music had no shortage of students who could sing, and they even dominated the annual Top Ten Campus Singers at Jinghai University. But when it came to songwriting, especially composing lyrics, that was a different story. It was a talent that couldn't be compensated for with extensive knowledge, a natural gift.

Some people were born with it, while others, no matter how hard they tried, couldn't acquire it.

So, even in the star-studded environment of the School of Music, the talent displayed in the lyrics of this song alone was dazzling enough to claim the spotlight, and naturally, everyone wanted to snatch it up.

Before she could finish speaking, students from other departments also started reacting.

"Classmate, the competition in the School of Music is fierce. Come to the Dance Department! Our department's annual performance quality has always been in the top three at the university, and you'll definitely have a stage to showcase yourself! Plus, we can guarantee you a prime spot for your song to make you the center of attention!"

"Classmate, come to the School of Foreign Languages. Our department's performance quality is also very high, and here, we have many girls who can speak multiple languages. You'll definitely be popular here!"

When a senior from the School of Foreign Languages spoke, the others in the crowd wore dark expressions, secretly sighing at the audacity of her proposal.

Zhang Yiyang and Yan Wei from the Game Design Department couldn't sit still any longer, and Zhang Yiyang even stood up dramatically.

"I can't believe you guys are going too far! This is someone from our Game Design Department! Today, I dare anyone to compete with me!

"Junior, don't be fooled. If you're looking for beautiful girls, our Game Design Department can definitely hold its own! And we can even play games together!"

The scene instantly descended into chaos.

Lu Zhixing was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected to generate such an enthusiastic response.

Just then, someone cleared their throat and lightly tapped on the table.

"Alright, quiet down, everyone! Let's each state the conditions our respective departments are offering, and let Lu Zhixing make his choice."

The person speaking was the teacher in charge of the event, and when this statement was made, everyone fell silent, and order was restored to the scene.

The Dance Department went first.

"Classmate, as I mentioned earlier, our department and the School of Music have always been competing for the top spots in the annual welcome party. However, the School of Music has a lot of music-related acts, and it would be difficult for you to stand out there.

"But here, it's different. We have more dance performances, and if you join us, you'll definitely shine and become the center of attention!"

Next was the School of Music's turn.

"I disagree with the Dance Department's classmate.

"While it's true that we have many music-related acts, we also have a high level of attention! Your talent is more than enough, and I can guarantee that your song will definitely make it to the stage!

"Moreover, we have dedicated teachers for arranging and a band to accompany you, ensuring that your song will have the best performance!"

The Performing Arts Department also presented a strong case.

"Classmate, you would actually be best suited for our Performing Arts Department. Our language-related performances have always been top-notch in the university, and your song, if incorporated into our language program, will definitely create a great synergy!"

The School of Foreign Languages continued to emphasize their traditional strengths.

"Classmate, the School of Foreign Languages is willing to give your song the closing performance slot, and all the female students in the department will be able to hear it. Are you sure you don't want to consider it?"

The senior student said this while flipping her hair.

Zhang Yiyang's lips twitched slightly, and he looked at Yan Wei beside him. "We can't lose. The junior might be stolen away!"

Yan Wei was also frustrated. "Exactly, the School of Foreign Languages is shameless!"

Zhang Yiyang said, "What I mean is, won't you put on a show?"

Yan Wei was momentarily at a loss for words. "I... I haven't even been in a relationship before; I'm not good at these things..."

Zhang Yiyang facepalmed. "All those hot dance moves you do for nothing! You're dropping the ball at the crucial moment!"

Yan Wei was annoyed. "Then why don't you go instead?"

Zhang Yiyang was somewhat puzzled. "Do I have the qualifications for that?"

He paused and then considered another possibility. "Hmm, you have a point. If the junior really likes this kind of thing, sacrificing for the department doesn't seem impossible..."

The two of them were getting quite anxious, sitting in the second row, waiting for their turn to speak. The previous departments had practically exhausted all their efforts to convince Lu Zhixing to join them, making Zhang Yiyang and Yan Wei extremely impatient.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of waiting, it was the Game Design Department's turn.

But just at that moment, a voice from the corner spoke up.

"Excuse me, would you be willing to participate in our show 'University's Got Talent'?"

"I just called to confirm, and I can assure you, if you join our program, you can skip the preliminary auditions and go straight to the semi-finals!

"With your level of talent, passing the semi-finals should be no problem, and you can directly enter the main competition. Once you're in the main competition, you can sign with an entertainment company, and your path to stardom will be paved!"

As soon as this was said, the venue fell silent once more.

Zhang Yiyang and Yan Wei exchanged glances, both thinking, "Uh-oh, this is bad!"

……

Author Note:

PS: Based on the similarity, here are some reference songs (sorted from highest to lowest similarity):

1. "鬼畜视频“暴发户单曲《我摊牌了》" (Crazy Video "Billionaire Single 'I've Laid My Cards'")

2. 毛不易《如果有一天我变得很有钱》 (Mao Buyi "If One Day I Become Very Rich")

3. 西虹市首富插曲《膨胀》 (Song from "Hello Mr. Billionaire" - "Inflation")

4. 相声《有钱了》 (Comic Dialogue - "Having Money")

You can search for these and listen to the song. Comic dialogue is a comedy show  (type of).

These are used as the reference for the above song, (Let's Be Honest, I'm a Rich Guy).